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 California
State University, Fresno President John D. Welty today urged faculty and
staff to remember and celebrate campus successes of the past year, even
as they work to overcome challenges in 2010.
At the annual Spring Faculty and Staff Assembly on campus, Welty
enumerated several high points of the past year, including opening the
new Madden Library, a national award for outstanding community service
and a $29.4 million cash gift for the Campaign for Fresno State.
But he acknowledged that the “many, many positive things” at Fresno
State are often overshadowed by the fiscal challenges imposed on the
university by the state budget crisis. He urged faculty and staff to
join him in being “a strong advocate for the CSU.”
Since almost all of Fresno State’s budget is already committed for this
fiscal year, Welty said he does not anticipate any further cuts in
services, staffing or class offerings.
But the future is uncertain, he said. Despite encouraging news for
higher education in Governor Schwarzenegger’s proposed budget, the fact
remains that funding reductions in recent years to the entire California
State University now are forcing Fresno State to becoming a smaller
campus.
Welty said the number of new students admitted – already down by 1,000
this school year – will be reduced by another 2,000 students in the
fall.
“Simply put, Fresno State must shrink back to the size it was in 2000,”
Welty said. “Our budget is being reduced to the figure we had in 2000.
And with a smaller budget, we must reduce the number of students we
serve and, correspondingly, the number of faculty and staff.”
Budget planning for 2010-11 does not contemplate continuing the
two-day-a-month furlough program beyond June 30, he said.
“Reducing the size of the university is the reality we face,” said Welty.
“And as we carefully consider the challenges and changes we face, we
will do all we can to minimize the impact on our campus community and on
our mission to educate students.”
On Feb. 5, the president will convene a budget summit with campus
leaders to outline a proposed budget plan and ask for feedback. After a
review of suggestions, he will issue a tentative plan in early March.
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